september - Grand Encampment, Knights Templar

“wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). He admonished
the man of Christ of his day
to be “strong in the Lord, and in the
power of his might” and went on to
describe military garb that is fit for the
battle. In each description Paul gave
from head to foot, whether the breastplate,
buckler, shield, helmet, sword,
etc., a corresponding meaning of that
particular symbol.
Paul uses the sword as a symbol,
telling the men of Ephesus to take “the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God” and speak boldly the “mystery
of the gospel” (Eph. 6:17 & 19). As in
Paul’s day and probably more so in our
very own, Paul’s declaration that “we
wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places” is never more needed
by the modern Knight Templar.
Even though the modern Knight
looks back to medieval days when
chivalry and nobility were openly celebrated,
and to wield a sword meant
combat against a foe’s “flesh and
blood,” the modern Knight should
wield his sword symbolically in the defense
of truth and against error.
Referring back to Paul’s teaching,
the sword is symbolic of the Holy Spirit
which is the word of God, which word
is truth. Thus, the modern Knight’s
words can dispel falsehood if we treasure
up truth in our own minds and
souls and use them in every situation
where falsehood and error presents
itself, “for the word of God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the
heart” (Heb. 4:12).
The day is fast approaching when the
God and Lord of this earth, whom every
Sir Knight is obligated to pattern his
own life after, will wield His own sword,
for “the anger of the Lord is kindled,
and his sword is bathed in heaven, and
it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the
earth” (Doctrine and Covenants of the
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day
Saints 1:13). For “out of his mouth goeth
a sharp sword, that with it he should
smite the nations” (Rev. 19:15).
As we wear our swords ceremonially
with our uniforms, may we also wield
our swords in defense of truth against
error in an age when falsehood and error
parade themselves openly and acceptably
before us.
Sir Knight David P. McCash is a member
of Prather Commandery No. 62 in
Indianapolis, Indiana. He can be contacted
at dpmccash@yahoo.com and
his website is:
http://www.sirknightdavidpmccash.com/
26 september 2013